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Quesnel’s Wild Women of the North fill hampers, backpacks and purses

The society filled 23 Christmas hampers on Dec. 22
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Tammy Burrows of the Wild Women of the North Society organizes the donations before the group of volunteers begins assembling Christmas hampers Dec. 22 at the Quesnel Tillicum Society Native Friendship Centre. (Lindsay Chung - Quesnel Cariboo Observer)

Twenty-three hampers filled with soup, pasta, canned vegetables, baking ingredients and toiletries will help local individuals and families get through the holiday season, thanks to the Wild Women of the North Society.

On Dec. 22, volunteers gathered at the Quesnel Tillicum Society Native Friendship Centre to fill hampers for seven families, six single mothers with children, eight singles and two couples and to fill backpacks and purses to be given out to people in need on the streets over the holidays.

“It’s awesome,” said Wild Women of the North Society member Willow Giesinger. “There were a lot of people who donated for this.”

The society is grateful to Carson Elementary School, the Postmen, Dollarama, the Quesnel Tillicum Society and community members for supporting this year’s Christmas hamper drive.

The Wild Women of the North Society, whose volunteers do grassroots, community-led initiatives to fill service gaps within the community — including late-night outreach, hamper programs and advocacy — is currently raising money for a mobile warming and outreach trailer.

Giesinger says they just received an Imagine grant for the cargo trailer, and they are raising money for insurance and modifications.

“We can remove a lot of the barriers that way,” she said, noting that when they have their own insurance, the liability will be theirs, no matter where they park the trailer.

The society is holding a fundraising dinner, dessert auction and dance Saturday, Dec. 28 from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Elks Hall. Tickets are $20 at the door, and there will be a cash bar, with bar proceeds to the Elks.

READ MORE: Wild Women of the North Society raising funds in Quesnel



editor@quesnelobserver.com

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